Automatic electric regulator.



No. 776,144. I PATENTED NOV. 29, 1904.

. A. MGGARY.

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 20,1903.

N0 MODEL.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

were;

No. 776,144. A PATENTED NOV. 29, 1904.

A. McGARY. AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR.20.1903.

HO MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNTTED STATES Patented November 29, 1904.

ALEXANDER MOGARY, OF LAGRANGE, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 776,144, dated November29, 1904.

Application filed April Z0, 1903.

T 0 all ZUhOTM/ it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER MCGARY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lagrange, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic ElectricRegulators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for regulating the e-lectromotive forceor current upon circuits that are supplied with electricity from sourcesor other circuits wherein the potential, current, or electromotive forceis subject to great variation, as instanced in car-axle lightingsystems, in street-car headlight and interior lamp-circuits, instorage-battery charging-circuits depending on central or municipalcircuits, and the like; and the invention has special reference toautomatic regulators for electric circuits, which include storagebatteries and electric lamps arc or incandescent. Numerous and ingeniouscontrivances have been invented for controlling or governing thepresence and introduction of resistance in such circuits for the purposeof maintaining a constant current or electrometive force upon thesupplied circuit. Each of these devices, as I am informed, ischaracterized by a row or series of resistance terminals or contacts anda collector, sweep, or contact finger or arm, which is automaticallyactuated by mechanical means under magnetic control. Many have beencomplicated by the use of small electric motors which supply themechanical force needed for the operation of the resistancevarying sweepor arm. Electric controllers or regulators that are built upon suchlines of necessity include a large number of mechanical elements orparts and an equally-extended group of magnetic parts, all of which arefrail and weak and which taken together constitute an electromagneticmechanism of such complexity of functions and structures as to courtfailure and inaccuracy in operation. Furthermore, the parts of thesecomplicated many-movement regulators frequently bind and refuse toperform their work because of the excessive temperature to which theyare subjected by the highly-heated resistance-coils that are Serial No.153,499- (No model.)

always placed in close proximity to the working parts of suchregulators. Experience has demonstrated the unreliability of presentdaycontrollers or regulators as a class, that they are difficult to keep inorder, and are the most frequent sources of trouble in the battery andlamp circuits wherein they are used.

The object of my invention is to improve the operation of electricregulators and to greatly simplify the construction thereof and rendertheir action more certain and reliable.

Another object of my invention is to provide an electric controller orregulator that shall admit of the subdivision of the resistanee to anyextent desired or required by the service to be performed by thetranslating devices in circuit.

I conceive that the chief difficulties encountered in the presentcontrollers or regulators arise from and are attendant upon theemployment of a rigid collector-brush -or sweep in combination withrigid resistance-sections or contacts. These elements make it necessaryto employ complex auto-driven mechanical elements that are short-lived,the efliciency of which varies with surrounding conditions, which arecomparatively slow in operation, and which offer a varying frictionaland mechanical opposition to quick, accurate movement in place of theuniform forces and conditions which the problem demands. Proceeding onthis conception I have determined upon the elimination of the usualrigid or solid metal sweep or collector, as well as all of thei'nechanical and auxiliary electrical and electromagnetic elements andmembers found in other regulators, and in place thereof I have adopted aliquid current-collector for cooperation with the necessaryresistance-coil terminals or contacts with a very simple and reliableelectromagnetic device for actuating and controlling the movement ofwhat I have thus termed the liquid current-collector.

My invention, broadly considered, consists in a liquid container orreceptacle having, preferably in its walls, the requisite number ofresistance terminals or contacts, suitably insulated, and arranged atdifferent points or elevations, in combination with a fluid, liquid, orplastic substance, preferably mercury, in said receptacle, and aliquid-displacing device that is electromagnetically operated orcontrolled and which by its movement causes the liquid to rise or fallinto contact with higher or lower terminals, as the case may be, saidliquid being included in the electric circuit and having a suitableterminal in either said container or said displacing device or plunger,and, further, my invention consists in various constructions andcombinations of parts and in circuit arrangements, all as hereinafterdescribed, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in whichFigure l is a vertical section of an automatic electric regulatorembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the displacingdevice or plunger in its lowest position. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectionon the line a w of Fig. 1, and Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing thecircuits of the regulator.

As shown in the drawings, 52 represents a solenoid, supported bybrackets 3, which extend from the backboard or slab 1.

5 is the measuring-pot or liquid-container supported upon but insulatedfrom the bracket 6. The pot 5 is preferably arranged beneath thesolenoid 2 and contains the central guide or standard 27.

7 is the solenoid-core, having on its lower end a tubular extension 8 toslide upon the standard 27. The extension 8 carries the displacingdevice or plunger 9, which is preferably a hollow cup of lessdiameterthan the pot or container 5, a narrow annular space 10 being leftbetween the plunger 9 and the inner Walls of the pot 5.

The parts 5 and 9 may be of any desired cross-section or shape, and anyconvenient means other than the standard or post 27 may be used forguiding the plunger and the solenoid-core.

11 11 11 11 are the resistance-terminals. These are placed closetogether in an inclined or spiral row, stepping upward from the bottomof the pot to the top thereof. The pot-Walls thus accommodate a verylarge number of resistance-coil terminals within a very small spacemeasured vertically, and it is obvious that this construction enables meto use as many terminals as may be required for nice regulation by thefine subdivision of the resistance. The difference between theelevations of adjacent terminals or contacts may be as slight or asgreat as differing conditions re quire, yet with entire freedom from theusual difficulties pertaining to contact areas and in sulation. Theterminals may be of any desired design or pattern; but I preferablyemploy simple screws 12, that pierce the insulating-plugs 13, which lillthe holes let in the walls of the pot, the ends of the screws being barewithin the pot or container. The screws have washers 15 of insulatingmaterial.

16 16 represent the wires or connections leading to theresistance-coils.

The pot 5 is partially filled with a liquid 17, preferably mercury,which is a good conductor, and when the plunger falls or is depressed itdisplaces the mercury and drives it upward between the plunger and thewalls of the pot or container, forcing the mercury into contact with theexposed or contact ends of the resistance-terminals. When the plunger israised, the column of mercury falls and is thus withdrawn from contactwith one or all of the terminals, according to the height to which theplunger is lifted.

18 and 19 are themain terminals of the solenoid, and 20 20 are the tapsthat are connected to the several upper coils or sections of thesolenoid.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be'seen that current enters over themain-circuit line 21, which is connected to the end or first terminal ofthe resistance 22. The lower end of the resistance is connected by thewire 14 to the lowest terminal or contact 11 on the regulatorpot. Fromthis terminal or from any point on the metal pot 5 a line 23 leads tothe up per connection 18 of the solenoid. From thence the circuit istraced through the windings of the solenoid to the outgoing or workingbranch 24 of the supplied circuit. As shown, the resistance-terminalconnections 1 1 connect respective terminals upon the pot and the coilsor sections of the resistance 22. The highest terminal 11 is connectedto the end of the resistance and line 21. As shown in l and 2, thecup-plunger 9 is loaded or weighted with a quantity of mercury 25,placed therein, and I may also employ a coiled spring within the post 27to assist in depressing the plunger. I prefer in most cases to weightthe plunger with mercury and to dispense with the spring; but either orboth means may be used. At times when the solenoid is deenergized theplunger will be in its lowest position, as shown in Fig. 2, and thecolumn of mercury will be elevated, as therein shown, so that it will bein electrical contact with all of the resistance-tcrminals 11. Thus atthe instant when the circuit is energized the current will passimmediately from the line 21 to the mercury in the pot and from thenceto the bottom terminal and to the solenoid, the resistance at thatinstant being all cut out. The solenoid will therefore be instantly andpowerfully energized and acting upon the solenoid-core will lift theplunger 9 and allow the mercury in the pot to fall. hen the plunger islifted, it is obvious that a number of the upper terminals upon the petwill be ITO uncovered and left bare by the fall of the liquid, therebyinterrupting the direct passage of the current from the line 21 to thebody of mercury and forcing the current to traverse a number of coils orsections of the resistance 22 before reaching a coil having a terminalthat is still covered by the mercury.

'From such a covered terminal the current finally reaches the mercuryand finds a direct passage to the line 23, the remaining resistancebeing elfectively cut out by the first direct mercury connectionsupplemented by the many avenues of escape afforded by the connections 1L of the lower terminals. A very strong current in the solenoid willproduce a complete elevation of the plunger and by allowing the mercuryto fall below all of the terminals will put all of the resistance intothe circuit. The elevation to which the plunger will be raised and atwhichit will be held will depend upon the strength of the current in thesolenoid, and this in turn is controlled by the quantity of efiectiveresistance in the circuit. The device operates almost instantaneouslywith every fluctuation of the current or electromotive force upon thecircuit wherein it is used, compensating therefor and resulting in aconstant current, potential, or electromotive force, as the case may be,on the working branch 24L of the main circuit.

It will be noted that the greatest displacement of the mercury in thepot occurs at the time when there is the least resistance in circuit andthat the solenoid has less weight to raise at the beginning of thestroke of the core than after it is partially elevated. The force of thesolenoid, however, increases as the core enters it and its increasedeffectiveness is usually sufficient to compensate for the increasedweight of the plunger when lifted. I, however, prefer to arbitrarilyincrease the strength of the solenoid as the plunger is lifted and tothis end employ auxiliary solenoid-windings 2, formed by tapping thecoils of the solenoid at different heights. The taps 20 lead toauxiliary terminals 20, provided in the wall of the pot and at difierentelevations. The lowest tap 20 leads to the uppermost terminal 20 and theupper tap leads to the lower terminal '20. The result of theseconnections is that when the mercury is elevated in the pot the uppercoils of the solenoid will be practically short-circuited or weakened bybeing thrown into multiple arrangement, while upon the elevation of theplunger and when the solenoid needs assistance the terminals 20, one orall, will be bared by the fall of the mercury, thereby restoring thecorresponding coils to active series circuit in the solenoid to furthercompensate for the increased weight that must be lifted and sustained bythe solenoid.

It is obvious that numerous modifications of my invention will readilysuggest themselves to one skilled in the art, and I therefore do notconfine my invention to the specific constructions, circuits, andarrangements herein shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. In an automatic electric regulator a solenoidhaving a core, in combination with a cupplunger directly coupled to andforming mechanically a part of said core, and concentric therewith, aliquid-pot containing said plunger, and a conducting fluid in said pot,substantially as described.

2. In an automatic electric regulator a solenoid provided with aplurality of taps, a liquid-pot, a series of auxiliary contact-pointsinsulated in the walls of said pot and connected with said taps, aconducting fluid within said pot, and means for displacing said liquidwithin said pot, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. In an automatic electric regulator, a liquid-pot provided with aspirally-arranged se ries of insulated contacts in its walls, auxiliarycontacts at different elevations in said pot, a solenoid having tapsconnected with said auxiliary contacts, a conducting fluid in said pot,said solenoid operating to raise or depress the level of said liquidwithin said pot, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. An automatic electric regulator, comprising a solenoid having a core,a pot containing a conducting liquid,aplunger directly coupled to saidcore and operable in said pot, and an inclined series of independentresistance-terminals insulated in the walls of said pot, substantiallyas described.

5. In an automatic electric regulator, a solenoid provided with taps, acore in said solenoid, a liquid-cup, a plunger in said cup and coupledto and forming, mechanicallyapart of said solenoid-core, a series ofindependently-insulated resistance-terminals spirally placed at varyingheights in the walls of said cup, ind ependently-insulated auxiliaryterminals in the walls of said cup connected with said solenoidtaps, anda conducting liquid in said cup, substantially as described.

6. An automatic electric regulator, comprising a pot, in combination,with a plurality of stepped resistance-terminals insulated on the wallsof said pot and arranged spirally thereon, a suitably-guided plunger foroperation in said pot, a solenoid and a .solenoid-core coupled to andconcentric with said plunger, substantially as described.

7. An automatic electric regulator,compris ing a pot or container, aconducting liquid therein, a plunger, the solenoid having its coreconcentric with and forming 1nechanically a part of said plunger, aresistance, a plurality of resistance-coil terminals, having contactswithin said pot and insulated from one another, and a circuit branchelectrically connected With said conducting liquid and including saidsolenoid, substantially'as described.

8. The automatic electric regulator, comprising a pot or vessel, incombination, with the resistance-terminals arranged at differentelevations in said pot, a body of mercury in said pot, a cup-plungeroperable directly by electromagnetic means and reversible by' gravity insaid pot, and a load of mercury in said plunger, substantially asdescribed.

9. An automatic electric regulator,comprising a liquid pot or container,in combination, With a plurality of resistance-torminals having exposedcontacts at different elevations in said pot, a conducting liquidprovided in said pot, a plunger for displacing said liquid, the springoperating upon said plunger to depress the same and an electromagneticdevice for Withdrawing said plunger, substantially as described.

10. An automatic electric regulator, comprising the liquid-container, incombination, with a plurality of resistance-terminals of varyingelevation, the conducting liquid in said pot, the displacing-plunger,thesolenoid having a core coupled to said plunger, the auxiliary terminalsin said pot and the solenoidtaps connected With said auxiliaryterminals, substantially as described.

11. An automatic electric regulator, comprising a metallic liquid-pot,in combination with a plurality of resistance-terminals having exposedcontacts at dillerent elevations in said pot and independently insulatedin the Walls thereof, a conducting liquid in said pot, a plunger fordisplacing said liquid, depressible by gravity, and an electromagneticdevice for raising said plunger, substantially as described.

12. In an automatic electric regulator, in combination, apot, aconducting liquid in said pot, a plunger in said pot, depressible bygravity, for raising the level of said liquid, a solenoid for raisingsaid plunger and thereby depressing the level of said liquid, aresistance in circuit with said solenoid, and a plurality ofspirally-arranged resistance-tern'iinals having bare contacts, exposedto said liquid in said pot, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 14th day ofApril, 1903, at Chicago, Illinois, in the presence of two witnesses.

ALEXANDER McGA RY.

\Vitnesses:

C. G. HAWLEY, GEORGE H. KELLY.

